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Paying It Forward: Engineers Can Make an Impact

August 23, 2021 By EMI

This is a guest blog by Tiffani Teachey

You might be thinking, “What does this have to do with engineering?” I’ll tell you. One of the most valuable traits that an engineer can possess is empathy, which is the ability to understand and share in another person’s emotions. What better way to exercise this trait than by helping others? Whether it is donating food, clothes, or time, engineers can make an impact by finding ways to give back!

“Service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living here on Earth” ~ Shirley Chisholm

Here Are Three Ways That Engineers Can Pay It Forward:

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How to Write Emails That Get the Job Done

August 16, 2021 By EMI

This is a guest blog by Pamela A. Scott

What if you could write really good emails? Would it boost your career?

I’m sure it would because being able to write really good emails would make you stand out from the crowd. Most people write emails that are average or below average.

How do you know if your emails are above average, or even really good? Here’s my formula for writing emails that set you apart from the others and endear you to your boss.

Your reader can:

Read and understand your email the first time through
Find your main point quickly
See whether or not he/she needs to take action now, then do so
Find the details needed to understand your message and act accordingly
Go on about his/her day without having to ask clarifying questions via another email or phone call

Top 10 Tips for Writing Great Emails

Healthy Conflict: How Disagreements Spur Innovation

August 13, 2021 By EMI

This is a guest post by Patrick Sweet, P.Eng., MBA, PMP, CSEP

For most engineers, conflict at work is something to be avoided. It’s about as desirable as spilling coffee on your pants before a big presentation or dealing with (yet another) paper jam. There’s an important difference, however, between conflict and most other office challenges: conflict is incredibly important. In fact, almost all innovative products and processes are the result of conflicts at work.

This leads us to two questions. Why is it that conflict is so important for innovation, and how can you approach conflict in a healthy way? In today’s article, I’ll tackle both important questions.

Why Is Conflict Important for Innovation?

5 Reasons to Say YES to Volunteering

August 9, 2021 By EMI

This is a guest post by Lindsay A. O’Leary, P.E., CAE, LEED AP, M.ASCE

Volunteering allows you to bring positive, measurable changes to your community and professional family. You’ve probably thought about saying YES to a volunteer opportunity. But how? When? Does it work with your schedule? You are busy, and what will you get out of it?

My advice is simple: Say YES and say it NOW. And the more you put in, the more you’ll get out of it.

Here Are Five Reasons Why Community Involvement and Volunteerism Will Improve Your Life:

Accepting Responsibility Is the Precursor to Closing the Deal

August 2, 2021 By EMI

This is a guest post by Nader Mowlaee

Whether you close business deals daily or consider a completed deal to be a new job offer that will catapult your career forward, you must first accept full responsibility for what will happen after signing the agreement. Taking responsibility is required for progressing in your work, business, life, or relationships. It is just the right thing to do, and it is a precursor to overcoming or altogether avoiding negative consequences.

Engineering Leaders Take Responsibility for Their Actions

Great engineers take responsibility for their actions and their thoughts because, ultimately, those thoughts turn into action and insights that enable business stakeholders to make decisions. I have seen time and again how engineering leaders take responsibility for their actions. Sometimes they win and get recognized for their efforts, and more often, they fail and get scolded; some even face criminal and obstruction charges. What makes someone a well-rounded engineer heavily relies on how many lessons they have learned from their failures and their career wins.

Should My LinkedIn Profile and My Resume Have a Motherhood Section?

July 26, 2021 By EMI

This is a guest blog by author Rae Taylor, one of EMI’s Civil Engineering Collective Content Contributors

It’s always been known that having kids can be detrimental to a woman’s career. There is more research that can be cited here that women pay a price for having a family, whether it be reduced promotional prospects or a complete loss of career.

Maybe this is why I’ve always been told not to talk about having or wanting kids. I’ve even been advised to not mention being married and of childbearing age. One charming man once told me he wasn’t going to teach me anything because I would get myself pregnant and then have to leave, so what was the point? Side note here: I taught him Excel, Word, and some other software, but I guess being months from retirement, which he talked about constantly, he wasn’t going to go get himself pregnant, so I was safe in the knowledge that my efforts wouldn’t be wasted.

In the interest of never talking about having kids, let’s talk about motherhood instead, and if that should be on resumes. I haven’t been thinking about this at all while applying for jobs. I’ve been thinking about selling myself in the best possible light to all possible employers. But then the BBC asked me if motherhood belongs on a resume. I said “Yes, it does!’’ But I said it in the way you do when what you mean it, “Someone else should do that and break that glass ceiling for all the mothers out there, but not me, because I actually want a job.”

Avoid Conflict by Focusing on These 3 Areas

July 19, 2021 By EMI

This is a guest blog by Pamela A. Scott

“This is what I NEED them to do,” a client said during our call recently. I had to squash the groan that was trying to escape my mouth.

The words and the tone of voice this client used were enough to ensure that “they” were not at all likely to do what she wanted them to do. “They” were her peers. She was asserting authority that she didn’t have.

Here are steps you can take to have successful conversations that don’t turn into unnecessary conflict.

Look At the Words You Use

“I need,” “I want,” and “you should” are good ways to send a conversation downhill before you’ve really gotten started.

When you use those expressions, you come across as a dictator. The persons you’re talking at — not with — can feel belittled, bullied, run over, and more. They’ll possibly end up thinking you’re a jerk.

Is Conflict Always Bad? The Answer May Surprise You

July 12, 2021 By EMI

This is a blog by Jeff Perry, MBA

Most of us, when we think about conflict, consider it a bad thing we should avoid. That’s not exactly true.

The right kind of conflict can actually build trust and increase performance in teams! In fact, I would say that one of the best indicators of a team that trusts each other is the amount of conflict in the team.

Positive, healthy conflict happens when we can challenge each other in real ways, be open and honest, and collaborate more effectively.

Disagreements Are Normal and Should Be Encouraged

There is no situation or team that is going to sail through all projects and tasks without ever disagreeing with each other. Yet one of the things that can build divisions and trouble in a teams faster than anything is when people don’t feel heard and able to express disagreements, especially with leaders.

The Challenges of Achieving Work-Life Balance as a Maintenance Engineer

July 5, 2021 By EMI

This is a guest blog by Bryan Christiansen

Finding an equilibrium between our professional and personal lives is a vital ingredient for boosting productivity and improving our physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Behind the elegant facilities and seamless production processes are maintenance engineers who guarantee the reliable and safe operation of equipment. They perform their duties under strict regulations and deadlines.

I ask myself: Are maintenance engineers happy? How do they balance the high levels of stress, frequent burnouts, and personal satisfaction? Here are some of the things that affect the work-life equilibrium and practical solutions to them.

1. Highly Demanding Responsibilities

7 Mistakes to Avoid As an Engineering Mentor

July 2, 2021 By EMI

This is a guest blog by Lauren Groff

The mentor/mentee relationship is one that needs to be defined early on to ensure that engineers get what they need out of it. Most of the time it goes great, and everyone is happy. Sometimes though, things go wrong and that’s how relationships get damaged. Because of this, you need to ensure you’re not making the following mistakes as an engineering mentor. Review the mistakes listed below to ensure everyone is on the same page.

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